CONCACAF girls train hard

Focusing on competing well in the CONCACAF Girls Under-15 Championship which starts this week is Ruben Flores’s top priority, but the head coach is focused on development as well.

Cayman competes in Group A with British Virgin Islands, Curacao and the Bahamas. Flores is excited by the team’s preparations for the championship.

“We are trying to build a culture and a program where the little girls see a future,” he said.

“Playing, studying or as coaches – see how hard these girls are working to be a good group and represent this country proudly.”

Flores, in his second stint at coaching a Cayman female national team, is shaping the girls to be at their best for the competition, which kicks off on Wednesday until Aug. 17.

Flores, who is taking a break from his regular coaching job in Canada, said that the team’s preparation has focused on improving fitness and technical ability.

“They are getting much better. They will be a very organized team,” he assured.

When asked what he hoped to instil, Flores said, “Pride for their country. Representing it the best way possible and also a good technical base to succeed in the near future.”

He added that the group is starting to understand the opportunity they have and trying to make the most of it.

Winning the competition, even though desired, is not the only ambition the coach has.

“Yes, I would love to win it, but more than that, I think the magic word is development. There is nothing I would like to have more than these girls playing a CONCACAF qualifier for a World Cup or playing for a big school and advancing their studies.”

Cayman opens the competition on Wednesday against the British Virgin Islands before tackling Bahamas and Curacao. All Cayman Islands national games will be played at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex, kick-off 7.30 p.m.

Log on to www.caymanfootball.com for the schedule, more news and profiles of each team member.